"Will put entire burden on states": Akhilesh Yadav criticises VB-G Ram G Bill, says 'Centre copying UP in renaming'

New Delhi [India], December 16 (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday criticised the VB-G Ram G Bill, claiming that the legislation will put "entire burden" on state governments.
Speaking to ANI, Akhilesh Yadav said that the 60:40 share of funds under the new Bill will create a tussle between the Centre and the states.
He also took a jibe at the Union government over the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), saying the Centre is copying the Uttar Pradesh government.
He said, "Politics and schemes should be such that they benefit people. A large number of people used to get employment opportunities through MGNREGA...You will put the entire burden on State governments; States will pass it on to the Centre. Several states have still not received the funds for MGNREGA. The UP government is playing tricks with its data. State governments are doing manipulation. So, what do you want to do? How will the schemes resolve the issues of the CMs? They will create problems for the CMs and the State government."
"Renaming it won't make much of a difference. Government in Delhi (at the Centre) is copying the UP government; UP government holds the record for maximum renaming," the SP chief said.
As the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, or the VB-G RAM-G Bill, carries the name of Lord Ram, Akhilesh Yadav further alleged misuse of central agencies, asking if this is the Centre's idea of "Ram Rajya."
"It has been heard that ED, CBI, IT action is now going to be launched against SP leaders too. So, is this 'Ram rajya' to activate one's agency in states where elections are due? If this has been renamed, then the seat of Meerut MP Arun Govil, who played Lord Ram, should be allocated next to the PM (in Parliament)," he said.
The Opposition has criticised the Bill for changing the scheme's name and removing Mahatma Gandhi from it. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other Opposition MPs, held a protest at the Parliament premises.
The Bill introduced by the Agriculture Minister in the Lok Sabha guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household, up from the existing 100 days, for adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work. As per Section 22 of the Bill, the fund-sharing pattern between the Central Government and the State Governments will be 60:40, while for the North Eastern States, Himalayan States, and Union Territories (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir), it will be 90:10. (ANI)